Index device



@@pi, 24, H935. B. G, RAND m- AL l@ INDEX DEVICE Filed April l2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 en Tamm f INVEN ORE 5w@ m, w35 B. G. RAND Er AL. ZM'AG@ INDEX DEVICE Filed April l2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. ATTORNEYS ,.G. RAND m. E@

INDEX DEVICE File'd April l2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "ffl /1 n @j N f & 4 I l 52 40 so as lll 50 v A TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 24, 1935 i zeiss,

PATENT GFFEQE INDEX DEVICE Benjamin G. Rand, North Tonawanda, and Ellsworth G. Layer, Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application April 12, 1932, Serial No. 604,808

16 Claims.

This invention relates to record liling devices and more particularly to record filing devices in which the record cards or sheets are maintained in a substantially vertical position with one card ioverlapping the adjacent card in visible relationship for index purposes.

The present invention provides a ling device in which record cards are loosely supported in substantially vertical position and oiiset overlapping 10,:;visible rel-ation upon frames or panels provided for the purpose. The invention also provides a record iiling device in which the space between adjacent card-retaining panels may be increased or decreased according to the number of cards filed or positioned on adjacent panels, as the panel becomes iilled or depleted of record bearing cards. The invention provides separator members removably attached to the panels for separating and protecting the cards on the panel, the separators being in vertical stepped and overlapping relationship.

The device further provides means whereby the various separators and card retaining panels may be readily and expeditiously inserted or removedV \irom the record le for inspection, or for a more ready addition or removal of card pockets.

The invention also comprises adjustable reversible frame or panel spacing members whereby the position of and space between adjacent :cards and separator holding panels may be regulated as the pockets become lled with record bearing cards or sheets.

The invention also comprehends an indexing device wherein index cards are carried upon ad- ",jacent panels or trames between separator members and adjacent .frames retain the cards and separators in substantially upright and vertical relationship.

The invention further co-mprehends the provision of a frame positioning'and holding device removably inserted in the index tray and formed to permit a variation of the space between adjacent frames, the frames in any predetermined position within the drawer being held and reitained xed therein in that position by the positioning and holding device.

In the drawings:

Fig. l. is a View in perspective of the improved record filing device.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation with one end of the cabinet removed and certain parts broken away.

3 is a fragmentary View in elevation, with certain parts in section, showing the method of removing or inserting a panel or frame in the record file or tray.

(Cl. L29-16) Fig. 4 is a side elevation with certain parts in section and with other parts broken awa;T to show the method of positioning, retaining and spacing lthe'panels in the le.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of a card 5- assembled on a panel. l5

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective showing another form of separator retaining member. Fig. l0 is an enlarged fragmentary showing of lone of the lower corners of the file drawer, panel holding member and the means for holding the 20- latter in the le.

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of a guide strip shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective of the serrated panel spacing member.

A'container or tray I5 receives a plurality of frame members It which are removablycontained within the tray or container, and are ordinarily kept therein in a substantially vertical position, but may be pivoted to a limited inclined position when the file is being inspected by a le operator or clerk; In the form of the invention described and illustrated, the container or tray comprises a bottom Il, side walls i8 and I9, and movable end walls 2S and 2l hingedly attached 35 at their lower ends adjacent the bottom of the tray, whereby the ends may be swung outwardly and the index card holding panels or frame members become visible throughout their whole length so that indexed matter carried by the frame mem- 40 bers may be observed. The side walls are formed with oiset portions M and 'i2 adjacent the lower edges for' a purpose which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Movement of each of the end walls 2@ and 2l of the i'lle drawer or tray is limited by the provision of retaining members 22 each pivotally held in position upon one ofthe end walls of the file by means of bracket members 23. The ends of the retaining members 22 are each formed 50 with upwardly extending tips 24, (Fig. 4), for insertion lin channels 2l formed at the upper edges of the side walls I8 and I9 by forming the sheet metal forming said side walls with lateral and outwardly extending 'anges or up- 55.

per edge portions terminating in downwardly extending portions arranged in spaced parallel relation to said side walls, and having inwardly extending portions 26 at the lower edges. The free edges of the inwardly extending portions 26 engage side walls I8 and I9 and with this construction the elongated channels 21 are thus formed to extend along the upper edges of the side walls of said tray. Slots 28 are provided at a predetermined position upon the upper edges 25 of the side walls for the reception of the uptherein, by riveting or otherwise suitably fastening the brackets to the side walls of the tray.

A portion 33 of each retaining member is bent into a substantial U-shape in order to provide leverage means whereby retaining members 22 may be turned in brackets 23 and the upwardly extending tips 24 disengaged from the slots 28 whereby the hinged ends of the tray may be moved outwardly in order to obtain extensibility and permit pivotal movement of the frame members within the tray. The movement of the ends vof the tray, and the extensibility of the frame members, is limited by the stop members 34 placed within the channel 21 and adjacent the top thereof, for engagement with the upwardly extending tips 24 of the retaining members 22.

A lever arm 35 is pivotally attached intermediate its ends to stud 36 on the outside of the side wall of the tray as shown in Fig. 4, and has one end extending upwardly through slotted portions in the upper edgeportion 25 and inwardly. extending portion 26, the upper free end of lever arm 35 being formed with an outwardly projecting end 31 forming a handle by which the lever arm may be manually Yactuated for a purpose hereinafter described. The arm 35 is normally urged to a forward position by means of a resilient member, such as spring 38, attached at one end 39 to a portion of the arm, the other end being anchored upon the tray as at 40.

Grooved frame-receiving members or supports 43 and 44 are placed upon the bottom of the tray or container longitudinally thereof. The member 43 is placed adjacent side wall I8 extending into the offset portion 4I thereof, the angle member 45 spaced from the offset portion and attached to the bottom of the container serving to retain the member 43 in position. This frame-receiving member 43 is removably placed between the offset portion 4I of the side c wall and the angle member 45, and may be removed from the container by lifting the member 43 to clear the upwardly extending flange 46 of angle member 45, tilting one side of member 43 slightly and removing the whole member. The tilting movement avoids engagement with down- 'wardly extending flange 41 of angular member 49 attached to shoulder 49 of offset portion 4I.

The companion frame Ireceiving member 44 is spaced from the other side Wall I9 and offset portion 42 thereof, angular member 58 attached longitudinally to the bottom of the container, limiting the position of member 44 in one direction, the limit of movement y in the other direction being governed by a panel locking plate or strip positioned upon the bottom of the container and within the offset portion 42 as explained more 5 "thereof, and serving to limit the movement of frame receiving member 44. A frame retaining strip 54, formed with an upwardly extending flange 55 upon one side and a downwardly exl5 tending flange 56 upon the other side is formed with cut-out portions upon the depending flange 56, at spaced intervals for cooperating with rolled portions 53 `of hinge members 5I.

The downwardly extending flange 56 terminates 20 in rolled edge portions 51 for reception of the hinge rod 52 whereby member 54 may be assembled with the hinge members 5I to form a pivoted member which in one position retains frame members I 6 in the slots of frame receiving member 44, while in another position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 10, frame members I5 and frame receiving member 44, may be removed. The hinged retaining member 54 is normally kept in panel retaining position by engagement with the 30 lower end 35 of lever arm 35 which extends through a curved slot 58 formed in shoulder 59 of offset portion 42. When lever arm 35 is moved to an upright position the end 35 of the pivoted lever arm moves into a position shown in broken 35` lines in Fig. l0 and thereby permits free pivotal movement of retaining member 54, the limit of this movement also being shown in the broken. lines. In order to produce this pivotal movement a spring member 6D is coiled about hinge rod 52, 40

one end 6I of the spring member having contact with the bottom of the container While the other end 62 of the spring member has contact with the inner side of the downwardly extending portion 56 of retaining member 54. The spring being un- 45 der torsion exerts pressure against the downwardly extending ange 56 of the member 54 and causes it to pivot about the hinge rod 52.

In order to insure retaining contact of end 35 of lever rod 35 with retaining strip 54, a guide 50 member 65, shown in enlarged perspective in Fig.

11 is attached within offset portion 42 adjacent the vupper end, this member being formed with substantially the same curvature as slot 58 provided in shoulder 59 of offset portion 42. upon moving arm 35 to substantially an upright position, the lower tip 35 follows flat portion 69 of the guide member and thereafter the inclined portion 61 thereof until the tip reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. I0, wherein tip 60 35 engages flat portion 66.

Since this guide member does not extend to the bottom of the container, the knee portion of the retainer 68, formed by the juncture of the downwardly extending leg portion 56 with the main 65 portion of the retaining member 54, clears the lower edge 69 of the guide member upon movement to the position shown in dotted lines.

The frame or panel members I6 are formed with a rolled portion 1I) upon the lower edge, upon 70 which the frame rests when in the container in order to induce ready pivoting of the frame when an operator desires to obtain access to information filed in the index drawer. In the form of frame illustrated a rod 1I is included within the 75 Thus, 55

2,015,460 y rolled member which acts as a reinforcingmedium. The upper end of the frame or panel is formed with a return bendlportion 12 which is then bent upwardly and terminates in downwardly extending portion 13 spaced from the main body thereof to form an index slip receiving member 14, in which index slips 15 are placed'to characterize the material indexed in the panel. The edges of the frame are provided with channel V-portions 1E which are adapted to act as guideways and receiving channels for the outwardly extending ends 11 of the supporting strips 18 which carry the separator members 19. The separator members 19 are added to and carried by the frame by means of the ends 11 of the supports 18 which are placed in verticaledge to edge relation upon the frames andalso carry the separating members 19 for cards which vare placed therebetween for indexing, in a vertical overlapped visible relationship as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4.

The separators are retained in tightly assembled relationship upon the panel by means of a follower of convenient type, twoforms 80 and B0' `V`being shown, as in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively. In the form shown in Fig. 8 a strip 83 is formed with ends 8| and 82 offset to one side of the central portion. The strip 83 is of such length that the ends 8| and 82 will be received by the channel `members 16 upon the edges of the frame member and slide therein to t tightly against the uppermost supporting strip 18 carrying a separator 19. Convenient means are provide-d upon the bar, such as the finger hole 85, for handling the bar when inserting or removing it from the frame. A pivoted tongue member 86 extends through a slot 81 in the shoulder 88 to form a friction locking member to retain the follower on the frame; the end 39 of the tongue being offset so that it may be inserted in one of the channel portions 16 of the frame with the ear 82 and upon movement of the pivoted tongue upward, the end 89 will bind against the side of the channelmember portion and lock the bar therein.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the locking device comprises a strip 90 provided with ends 9| and 92 offset to one side of the central portion and connected thereto by portions 93. A pivoted bar 94 is attached at 98 to portion 90 land extends through a slot 95 formed in one of the portions 93, the bar being provided with an offset tongue portion 91 upon its extremity placed within the slotted portion formed between theextending ears 92, the other end of the pivoted bar extending to Ya finger hole 99 for registry therewith so rthat the bar may be manually operated by inserting finger into the nger hole and pressing the end of the bar whereby contact with the edge of the channel member 16 is released and the locking bar removed.

In order to keep the bar locked in the channels of the frame the spring member presses against the bar to 'ensure engagement of tongue member 91 with the side of the channel as shown "in Fig. 2.

The separator members, and cards which are placed between the separator members, are protected from unnecessary Wear and friction by providing the frames with protector members |85. Thus, in Fig. 2, is shown a view in elevation of a protector member attached to the rst panel in the container. The frame member |6 is provided adjacent its lower rolled edge with strip members or brackets |00 which are attached to the panel, as for instance by rivets |0| Fig. 7 and are provided with an intermediate offset portion |02 spaced from the' panel, the shoulders of the offset portion being provided with apertures |03 for loosely receiving hinge rod |84 upon which protector member |05 is carried. The 5 protector `member proper is provided at its lower edge with rolled portions |06 for reception of and attachment to hinge rod |94 whereby the pro-- tector is pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the frame, cut-out portions being provided atthe lower edge for registry with bracket members |00. The protector member is normally of the same width as the frame, while in height the protector member extends upwardly from the bottom of the frame but stops somewhat short of the top thereof, the upper limit being a position below the lower edge of the index slip receiving member 14. In the form of protector shown in the illustration, reinforcing strips |08 extend longitudinally of the protector, The protector member may be a sheet extending upwardly only to a. height equivalent to that of the lowermost separator, as shown at |89 inFig. l, in order to permit inspection of all the material led between the separators upon a given frame.

It will be noted that the index described provides for the filing of loose cards in vertical stepped overlapping visible relationship and that Y any desired number of cards may be placed between adjacent separators. Provision is also 1 made for facility in posting operations since the frame, separators, and cards carried thereby have one edge thereof normally adjacent one side wall of the container while the other edge is spaced from the other side wall thus permitting cards on which a posting operation, checking operation or the like is performed, to be moved lengthwise of the frame and separator and be visible in the space between the edge of a frame and the side wall |51 of the container.

It is to be noted that as the number of separators upon a given panel or frame and the number of cards between adjacent separators is increased, the space between the adjacent frames becomes lled and thereby increases the buildup between adjacent frame members when it is desired to inspect the material led thereupon. When the index thus becomes filled with filed material it becomes necessary todecrease the number of frames within the container and to increase the space between adjacent frames to compensate for the build-up necessary to efliciently locate material filed therein. To this end, removable frame receiving support members 43 and 64 are provided which are formed with serrations 55 or notches for the reception of the lower rolled edge of the frame member.

These frame receiving members are provided with a plurality of series of serrations, the serra'- tions in a given series having a deinite space between adjacent notches, this distance however being varied in each series. Thus, the H-beam ||0 shown in Fig. l2 provides four anges, each flange being formed with serrations of 'a definite spacing, the spacing on each flange differing from 65 the spacing upon the other flanges. When the H beam is placed within a container to serve as a frame receiving member in order to insert the greatest number of frames within the container, the H beam is placed with the edge l extending upwardly from the bottom of the container, the beam being so placed that that side is toward the interior of the container. The edge of the H beam ||2 is pro-vided with serrations or notches, the distance between the node of one depression and the node of the next adjacent depression be- 51 on edge H3 being still larger and the nodes on edge I I4 being the greatest distance apart. Thus, when the led material in adjacent frames becomes so great that it is necessary to lengthen the distance between the adjacent frames, the H beams are reversed in their position in the cabinet and since the distance between adjacent frame receiving depressions upon the flanges I I2, II3 -or II4 are greater than that on the anges I I I, the frames resting therein will thus be spaced at an increased distance when placed in the container.

A tray is shown with frames in position as shown in Fig. 1. In order to change the spacing between adjacent frames, the frame members are Vremoved and the H beams or frame supporting members have their positions changed in such manner as to give the desired spacing. Toremove the frame members I6 pressure is exerted upon the handle of lever 35 whereby the lower end of the lever moves within the slot 58 in the shoulder of the oiTset portion i2 to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 thereby permitting pivotal movement `of retaining member 54 to a position as shown in Fig. 3, or shown in Vdotted lines in Fig. 10. The frames may be moved in a sidewise direction in the cabinet and thereafter lifted bodily fro-m the cabinet as shown in Fig. 3. The removable frame receiving members 43 and 44, or H beams II of Fig. 12, may then be turned to a` position whereby a serrated iiange, such as flange II2 is presented for the reception and retention of the bottom edges oi the frame members I5 and these members are now spaced a greater distance one from the o-ther, that is, the beam IIO has been turned through 180 around its longitudinal axis. The position of the H member in which the frames are spaced the next greatest distance apart may thereafter be obtained by reversing the ends of the beam in :the container, that is, by turning the beam through 180 around a transverse axis. The last position of the beam would then be obtained by turning the beam 180 around its longitudinal axis and the container would then receive the smallest number of frames which would be spaced apart the greatest possible distance by the use of one set of frame retaining members. Of course, H beams may be used in which the serrations are spaced apart at a greater distance than :that shown and illustrated and thus permit a great number of cards being filed upon a given frame.

It will be clearly seen that the present invention relates to an index device in which indexed material may be placed in vertical overlapping visible relationship and wherein provision is made to space adjacent index carrying frames within the container, the frames being pivoted therein from a vertical to a determined and limited inclined position and wherein the distance between adjacent frames may be increased to provide for the build-up as additional index cards and/or separators are added to the frames.

While we have illustrated and described in detail one form of the invention the particular structures which we comprehend are described with more particularity in the appended claims which define the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a filing device, a series of frame members for supporting a plurality of index elements, a iile tray for receiving and supporting said frame members on edge, and means in said tray pivotally receiving and holding the lower ends of said frame members in predetermined spaced relation relativeto each other and operable to Vary the spacing between said frame members.

2. In a ling device, a plurality of frame members for supporting index elements, a tray for receiving said frame members for support on the lower edges, and reversible means in said tray for pivotally receiving and positioning the lower edges of said frame members in any one of a series of predetermined relative spaced positions.

3. In a ling device, a plurality of frame members for loosely supporting index cards, a tray for supporting said frame members in substantially vertical position, and removable reversible spacing members in said tray for pivotally positioning the lower ends of said frame members in predetermined spaced relation therein, the distance between adjacent frames being varied for each position of said spacing members in the drawer.

4. In a ling device, a plurality of frame members for supporting separator members, a drawer for the reception of said frame members in substantially vertical position, serrated members in said drawer having a plurality of serrated portions with differently spaced serrations in different portions ior selective positioning in said drawer for pivotally receiving and spacing the lower ends of said frame members in any one of said serrated portions. and manually operable means for holding said frame members in contact 35 with said serrated members.

5. A filing device comprising frame members, a container for removably supporting said frame members, a member detachably supported by said container provided with projecting edges formed with spaced receiving portions for pivotally receiving the lower ends of said frame members, and manually operable means for holding said frame members and second named member in engagement with each other and in said container against removal.

6. A ling device comprising frame members, a container for said frame members, a member supported by said container provided with project-r ing edges, each of said edges being formed with spaced receiving portions for pivotally receiving lower ends of said frame members, said spaced portions being spaced differently upon different edges for selective independent operation in receiving said frame members and positioning them in selected spaced relationship, and means for holding said ends of the frame members in removable engagement with said second named member, said second named member being insertable in any one of a plurality of positions in said container for the selective spacing of said frame members.

7. A filing device comprising frame members, a container for said frame members, members supported by said container provided with projecting edges and insertable in the container to selectively position any one of said edges in iiiframe members in removable engagement with said second named members.

8. In a filing device, a plurality of panels fory supporting a plurality of index cards in offset overlapping visible indexed relation, a tray for supporting said panels `in adjacent relation standing on the lower ends, means mounted on the tray for pivotally positioning the lower ends of said panels in predetermined spaced relationship to each other, panel retaining members for engaging said ends of the panels and retaining them in the tray, vand means for moving one of said retaining members from engagement with said panels.

9. n a ling device, a plurality of panels for supporting a plurality of index cards in offset overlapping visible indexed relation, a tray for supporting said panels in adjacent relation standing on end, means removably mounted in the tray forV pivotally positioning the lower ends of said panels in predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other, panel retaining members for engaging said ends of the panels and retaining them and said means in the tray, and a pivoted ond on said tray for movement from a closed position to an open position, said panels having limited rocking movement in said container when said end is in the open position.

10. A rile, comprising a tray, a pair ofl support members detachably engaged in said tray and extending along opposite sides thereof, a plurality of frame members mounted in upright position in said tray for limited rocking movement about the lower edges with said lower edges engaging and supported by said support members, means on the support members spacing said frame members apart, and means on the tray detachably engaging the lower ends of said frame members and detachably retaining said frame members and support members in the tray.

11. A file, comprising a tray, a plurality of frame members positioned for limited rocking movement on edge in said tray, and selective positioning means in said tray having a series of separate rows of spacing parts each of which is adapted for independently engaging and retaining said frame members in any one of a plurality of different relative spaced arrangements according to the selected row of spacing parts.

12. A ling device, comprising a tray, a plurality of frame members mounted in the tray in spaced parallel relation for rocking movement about the lower edges, said frame members having bearing portions at the lower corners, retaining means in the tray for engaging said bearing portions, the retaining means for engaging one of said bearing portions having a strip formed with lateral oppositely extending anges on the edges thereof, one of said flanges being hinged to the tray, the other flange and the adjacent portion of said strip cooperating with said frame members and one of said bearing portions in one position of the strip to retain said frame members in the tray, a manually operable lever, and means cooperating with said lever to move said strip into retaining and releasing positions relative to said frame members.

13. In a nling device, a tray, a plurality of frame members mounted in the tray and adapted for rocking movement about their lower ends, a plurality of separators hingedly attached to each frame member at the lower edgeY and arranged in offset overlapping relation, said separators having pocket forming cooperation to support cards in offset relation vertically, a -protector member on each frame member hingedly mounted at the lower edge to the lower end portion of the frame member, the upper free edge of each protector member engaging the rear face of the frame member forwardly thereof, said protector member supporting and holding said separators in upwardly extending relation on said frame members, end walls hinged to the ends of -said tray, and means for retaining said end walls in substantially vertical and in outwardly inclined positions respectively, said end walls retaining said frame members in adjacent substantially vertical positions in the vertical positions thereof, and said frame members being free for relative rocking movement in the inclined position of said end walls to provide access to cards supported between separators.

14. In a ile, a frame member having laterally and inwardly directed anges on the side edges spaced from adjacent portions of the frame member to provide inwardly directed channels, a follower formed of a sheet metal plate having opposite end portions offset in parallel relation to one side of the intermediate portion, said end portions slidably engaging in said channels, one end portion having a portion removed to provide a recess, and the connecting portion of said plate between the last-mentioned end portion'and the central portion being formed with a slot, and a tongue member pivoted on said central portion and having one end extending through said slot into said recess, said tongue member projecting beyond the end of said follower in one position for engaging said frame member and frictionally locking said follower against movement in one direction on said frame member, said tongue member being movable out of engagement with Y said frame member in another position.

l5. A file comprising a tray, a pair of Vsupport members in said tray, means in said tray cooperating to loosely receive, engage and hold said support members in spaced parallel relation extending along opposite sides of said tray, a plurality of frame members mounted in Vupright position in said tray forlimited rocking movement about the lower edges with said lower edges engaging and supported by said support members, and means on the support members spacing said frame members apart adapted to retain said frame members in spaced relation.

16. A ling device, comprising a tray having a bottom and upstanding side walls, an end wall hinged at each end of said bottom, a plurality of frame members pivotally mounted at the lower ends in said tray parallel to said end walls, a retaining member pivotally mounted on each end wall having laterally extending tip portions at the ends of said member formed to provide hooks, said side walls each having a pair of spaced parallel wall sections and a connecting upper edge section cooperating to form channels to receive the ends of said retaining member provided with said hooks, said upper edge sections having slots formed therein .to receive said hooks for cooperation with-said upper edge sections to retain said end walls in vertical position, and stop members connecting said pairs of wall sections and eX- tending through said channels for cooperation with said hooks on said retaining member to normally retain saidhooks on said retaining member operably engaged in said channels and for cooperation therewith to support said end walls in inclined position.

BENJAMIN G. RAND. ELLSWORTH Gr. LAYER. 

